Sir Keir Starmer has expressed his frustration with politicians who engage in empty rhetoric without taking action, as he defended his previous remarks regarding a grooming gangs inquiry.
During an interview with Sky News’s political editor Beth Rigby, the prime minister was questioned about his earlier statement in January, where he criticized those advocating for a national investigation into pedophile rings as «jumping on a far-right bandwagon» – despite now endorsing such an inquiry.
Latest in Politics: Baroness Casey urges the public to remain calm regarding grooming gang ethnicity data
Sir Keir clarified that his criticism was directed towards the Tories, who were pushing for an inquiry that they had failed to establish during their time in government.
He explained: «I was specifically targeting those politicians.
«I find it frustrating when politicians engage in theatrics without following through on their promises when they have the opportunity to do so. It is, in my opinion, one of the most disappointing aspects of politics.»
In response to a report by Baroness Casey, the government has initiated a national inquiry into grooming gangs, acknowledging that the ethnicity of individuals involved in such crimes has been neglected by authorities.
The independent peer was tasked with conducting an evaluation of sexual abuse committed by grooming gangs in England and Wales in January, coinciding with comments made by tech mogul Elon Musk that reignited public interest in the scandal.
Initially, the government resisted calls from the Conservative party for a nationwide inquiry into grooming gangs, opting to focus on implementing the recommendations from Professor Alexis Jay’s comprehensive seven-year review on child abuse.
Although the review was completed in 2022, the Conservative government failed to implement its recommendations before losing the election last July.
Following Baroness Casey’s report, which recommended an inquiry, the government’s stance shifted.
According to her findings, ethnicity data is absent for two-thirds of grooming gang offenders. However, at a local level in three police forces – Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire, and West Yorkshire – there has been a disproportionate prevalence of group-based child sexual exploitation involving men of Asian descent.
Baroness Casey highlighted that rather than exploring the role of ethnicity or cultural elements, authorities opted to avoid the subject entirely for fear of being labeled as racist, emphasizing the need for further investigation.
In his conversation with Beth Rigby, Sir Keir emphasized that he had thoroughly reviewed the report and stressed the importance of accountability.
When asked about holding accountable «social workers, policemen, and individuals who failed,» he responded: «If the inquiry reveals instances of failure or misconduct, then accountability is absolutely necessary.
«This is one of the primary objectives of an inquiry, and being a statutory inquiry… it holds the power to compel witness testimonies, ensuring a comprehensive examination of all issues. As part of this process, individuals responsible for wrongdoing must be held accountable.»